Sharpening device.



P. E. BIRD.

I SHARPBNING DEVICE.

APPLIUATION FILED 00T. 31. 1910.

Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

/NvgNToR l@ K PM2/755mm By /M V WITNESSES ATTORNEY coLuMjA PLANOGRAPHco., WASH E STATES PETER E. BIRD, OF JENKINTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHARPENING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedJan. 2, 1912.

Application filed October 31, 1910. Serial No. 590,074.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER E. BIRD, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Jenkintown, in the county of Montgomery and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSharpening Devices, whereof the following is a specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing.

This invention particularly relates to that class of sharpening deviceswhich are especially adapted for sharpening razor blades, and such toolsas require an extremely keen edge.

Among the objects of this invention are to provide a sharpening devicefor tools, comp-rising a sharpening member, a tool holder and mechanismfor alternately operating each simultaneously with and independently ofthe other; `to provide in such a device, means for alternatelypresenting opposite sides of the blade of a tool into operative relationwith the sharpening surface; to provide the sharpening surface withspiral grooves and interposed ridges and to fill the grooves withabrasive material; to provide means to automatically remove the toolfrom contact with the sharpening surface before the direction ofrotation of the sharpening member is reversed; and to provide means toprevent the longitudinal movement of the tool in the holder.

This invention further includes all of the various objects and novelfeatures of construction hereinafter more definitely set forth.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a plan view of a sharpeningdevice conveniently embodying this invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation4of the device shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional viewtaken on the line 3 3 in Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of thefriction crown wheel.

In said drawing the handle 6 has the bracket 7, which with the frame 8carried thereby forms the rectangular boxing 9, in which is mounted thedriving pulley 10 pinned upon the spindle 12, which is journaled in saidboxing and frame, and which carries the head 13, having lugs 14, whichloosely engage apertures 16 in the rotaryv sharpening disk 17.

As best shown in Fig. 1, the apertures 16 are circularly wider than thelugs 14 and permit a limited lost motion, or relative rotation of thedriving mechanism with respect to the sharpening disk 17 Said sharpeningdisk 17 is mounted to rotate on the washer 18, and is provided with anannular facing 19, of leather or other suitable sharpening material,having its sharpening surface provided with a series of spirallydisposed ridges 20 forming interposed grooves 21. Said grooves 21 mayform a space between the successive ridges, or may be filled withabrasive material 22, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawing.

The frame 8 has an outer upturned portion 23, forming one bearing 24 forthe shaft 25, whose other bearing 26 is provided in the forwardlyextending and upwardly turned spring portion 28 of said frame 8. Saidshaft 25 vcarries a blade or tool holder 30, which embraces the shaft,and which is secured thereto, and has the opposed substantially parallelwings 32 forming a slot for the reception of the blade or tool clamp 33.Said clamp 33 embraces the blade 34, best shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and isprovided with the lugs 35 turned in to form a stop, which prevents theclamp 33 shifting toward the center of the sharpening disk, as said diskis rotated in contact with either surface of the blade 34. Said clamp 33is provided with projections 36 on one side, registering with apertures37 on the other side, and coperative therewith to hold said blade 34.

The head 13 is provided with a facing 15 of leather or other suitablematerial, upon which is loosely mounted the friction crown wheel 38,which, as best shown in the enlarged view, Fig. 4, is preferably formedof sheet metal, and is provided with teeth 39, which are punchedtherefrom. Said teeth 39 are arranged to engage the teeth 40 of the*gear 41, which is mounted on the shaft 25, and which serves to rotatesaid shaft sufficiently to engage the opposite faces of the blade 34with the sharpening surface of the sharpening disk 17 in eitherdirection of rotation of said disk.

It will be obvious that the friction crown wheel 38, being yieldinglyengaged with the leather facing 15, will be stopped by the engagement ofthe blade 34 with the facing 19 of the disk 17, and that said blade willbe held with a sufficient pressure, effected by the frictionalengagement of the facing 15 with said crown wheel, to cause the blade tobe sharpened by the ridges 20 of said facing 19, and that by the spiralarrangementof said ridges the leather strop is drawn diagonally acrossthe edge of the razor blade, thus giving the keen edge desired. It maybe here noted that by filling the grooves 21 with abrasive material, thehoning and stropping may be simultaneously effected, by the rotation ofthe sharpening. disk 17.

In order that a uniform friction will be maintained between the crownwheel 38 and the friction facing 15 upon the head 13, the shaft 25 isprovided with a presser roller 41-2, which bears upon the plane surfaceof the Wheel 38 and is maintained in contact therewith by the tension ofthe spring. portion 28 of the frame 8, as best shown in Fig. 2.

The mechanism is arranged to be driven by a cord 4:5 which is loopedaround the pulley 10, and the looped end46 of said cord may be engagedupon a hook or other suitable stationary fixture, while the loop 47 ispreferably held by the lefthand of the operator. The handle 6 isarranged to be held by the right hand of the operator, and alternatelymoved toward the opposite loops 46 and 47, which causes the drivingmechanism to alternately rotate in opposite directions, and causes theblade to be flopped alternately from one side of the shaft 25 to theother, and engaged with the facing 19 of the sharpening disk 17.

It is to be noted that by the operation above described, the oppositefaces of the blade will be presented against the ridges of the facing19, so that upon one side of the blade the spiral ridges will cause thestrop to be drawn across the blade outwardly, while upon the other sidesaid ridges will cause the strop to be drawn across the blade inwardly.It may be further noted that upon each reversal of reciprocation of thehandle 6 to reverse the direction of rotation of the sharpening disk 17,by reason of the lost motion above referred to, the driving mechanism isafforded a limited rotation independently of the sharpening disk,thereby slightly rotating the blade 34 from contact with the facing-'19, which prevents any possible scarring of said facing 19 by thecutting action of the keen edged blade 34C, which, if not shifted fromengagement with the strop, would tend to chip pieces therefrom as it wasrotated against said edge, and destroy its sharpening surface.

It is not desired to limit this invention to the precise details ofconstruction and arrangement herein set forth, as it is obvious thatvarious modifications may be made therein without departing from theessential features of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, I claimt 1. In a sharpeningdevice, the combina- 'tion with a handle, of a frame, a rotary membercarried by said frame and having a facing of sharpening material, ashaft mounted in said frame, a blade or tool holder carried by saidshaft, driving mechanism operat-ive to rotate said rotary member, andarranged for a limited movement independent of said rotary member, acrown wheel frictionally connected with said driving mechanism, and agear on said shaft operatively connected with said crown wheel andarranged to be rotated thereby, to shift the blade carried by said bladeholder into contact with said facing, and to maintain said blade incontact therewith under pressure during the rotation of said rotarymember, and to shift said blade holder to disengage said bladetherefrom, before reversing the direction ofl rotation of said rotarymember, independently of the movement of said member.

2. In a sharpening device, the combination witha handle, of a framecarried thereby, a rotary member having a facing of sharpening materialprovided with a series `of ridges and interposed grooves, spirallyarranged, a shaft carried by said frame, a blade holder on said shaftarranged to carry a blade or tool, driving mechanism operativelyconnected with said rotary member, and arranged for a limited rotationwith respect thereto, a friction wheel having teeth, a gear on saidshaft arranged to engage said teeth, to rotate said shaft, and to holdsaid blade in contact with said facing, and to remove said blade fromsaid facing upon the reversal of the direction of rotation of saiddriving mechanism independently of vthe movement of said rotary member.

3. In a sharpening device, the combination with a handle, of a springframe carried thereby, a rotary member mounted in said frame, and havingapertures, a facing of sharpening material carried by said member andprovided with a plurality of ridges, spirally arranged, drivingmechanism having lugs loosely fitted in said apertures, and arranged fora limited rotation independently of said rotary member, a friction wheelhaving teeth, yieldingly connected with said driving mechanism, a shaftmounted for rotation in said frame, a blade or tool holder carried bysaid shaft, and a gear on said shaft operatively connectedv with saidfriction wheel, to shift said blade into contact with the sharpeningsurface, and arranged to shift said blade from said surface,independently of the movement of said rotary member, upon the reversalof direction of said driving mechanism.

t. In a sharpening device, the combination with a handle, of a springframe carried thereby, a rotary member mounted in said frame and havingapertures, a facing of sharpening material provided with a plurality ofridges, spirally arranged, driving mechanism, having lugs loosely iittedin said apertures, and arranged for a limited rotation independently ofsaid rotary member, a friction Wheel having teeth, yieldingly connectedWith said driving mechanism, a shaft mounted for rotation in said frame,and removable therefrom by springing said frame, a blade or tool holdercarried by said shaft, a gear on said shaft operatively connected withsaid teeth to shift said blade into contact with the sharpening surface,and to hold said blade under pressure against said surface, and shiftsaid blade from said surface independently of the movement of saidrotary member upon the reversal of direction of rotation of said drivingmechanism, and means to actuate said driving mechanism.

5. In a sharpening device, the combination With a handle, of a framecarried thereby, a rotary member mounted in said frame and havingapertures, a facing of sharpening material provided With a plurality ofridges, spirally arranged, drivin mechanism comprising a pulley havinglugs loosely fitted in said apertures and arranged for a limitedrotation independently of said rotary member, a friction Wheel havingteeth, yieldingly connected With said driving mechanism, a shaft mountedfor rotation in said frame, a blade or tool holder carried by saidshaft, a gear on said shaft operatively connected With said frictionWheel, and actuated thereby to shift said blade into contact with thesharpening surface, and to hold said blade under pressure against saidsurface, and shift said blade from said surface independently of themovement 'of said rotary member upon the reversal of direction of saiddriving mechanism, and a cord in looped engagement With said pulley,operative to actuate said driving mechanism.

6. A sharpening device comprising a frame, a sharpening member mountedthereon, driving mechanism, a friction Wheel connected to said memberand having teeth, and yieldingly connected to said driving mechanism, ablade or tool holder, a gear connected to said holder and movabletherewith, said gear being operatively connected to said friction Wheeland actuated thereby to shift said blade into contact With thesharpening surface.

7. A sharpening device comprising a frame, a sharpening member mountedthereon and having apertures, driving mechanism comprising a pulley andlugs loosely fitted in said apertures and arranged for a limitedmovement independently of said sharpening member, a friction Wheelconnected to said member and having teeth, and yieldingly connected tosaid driving mechanism, a blade or tool holder, a gear connected to saidholder and movable there- With, said gear being operatively connected tosaid friction Wheel and actuated thereby to shift said blade intocontact With the sharpening surface.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day 0fOctober, A. D.,

PETER E. BIRD. Witnesses:

ALEXANDER PARK, CLIFTON C. HALLOWELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

